St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-09-03
PIERCE AND SPARKS.
This is Not a Partnership Con-
Germ, as the Head Line
Might Indicate.
Looker-In Simply Makes Brief
Reference to Them in the
Same Article.
The Effect Of Sparks Policy on
Dakota---Pierce Hedg-
ing Gracefully,
Gov. Pierce's Scheme to Go to
Grand Forks---Volga and
the Prize Baby.

NAlEhlOhhs bOCpI. 1.-ff Gil,
thing has been accomplished if nothing
more is ever done. Editor Pierce, last
week in his Dakota edition, has nothing
further to say about the "administra-
toms hired men, editing the GLOBE,
and does not again accuse Gov. Church
or any member Of his cabinet of writing
pieces for the GLOBE. He now speaks
of the matter in an entirely different
way, and says that the "administra-
toms boss contributor is doing such
and such things. 1t is rather comfort
ing to know that Editor Pierce can tell
point when he sees it. Next week it
may be expected that he will not allude
to me as an administration contributor
at all, but speak of me in that truthful
light which is always the best, and sim
ply call me GLOBE contributor. Mr..
Pierce is coming out all right if we only
give him time. When once convinced
that am bound to treat him fairly,
there will be absolutely nothing that
will be too nice for him to say about me.
AS l have intimated before, he is bound
to be with the popular side, and just as
soon as he finds out that that is what l
brace. At first he thought that I was
not going to treat him fairly; he was
just little afraid that l might refer to
his adminlStratiOn-and he is wonder
fully tickliSh on that score, and [ don't
know why!-but now he begins to be-
come acquainted with me and my way,
and-"all's well that ends we'll" just
see if next week Governor Pierce does
not call me the boss GLOBE contributor.
HOW SPARKS STANDS.
A really interesting question is that
as to how Sparks stands in Dakota.
There is probably no state or territory
in the union where Commissioner Sparks
has been SO much criticised as in Da-
kota. Outside of Dakota we hear very
little about him, and that generally COM
plimentary enough. But in Dakota the
criticism is largely one-sided, and it is
In most instances, far from compliment
airy, and often bitter and sarcastic. The
question with thinking and fair-minded,
non-partisan people is, why is all
the abuse of Sparks in Dakota?
1t is not difficult matter
to explain. Dakota is of all the agri-
cultural countries the newest. Ne
braska and Kansas probably next pre-
ceding Dakota in settlement, are many
years in her lead. The fact that Dakota
is new country cannot be too firmly
impressed on the minds of her friends.
But. Withal, she has had most wonder
full development. Most of the people
who have come to Dakota come because
they could obtain free lands,a and for that
purpose. At last nearly all the free
land is gone, and the settlers are ac-
lively engaged in proving up their
homestead, tree-claim and presumption
entries. Dakota is prosperous and
wealthy, but it is
LARGELY DUE TO EASTERN CAPITAL.
The sayingi is true that there is hardly
a farm in this whole territory without
a mortgage ''plastered onto it, If this
is true in the country it is more applica-
are built on a honeycOmb of Eastern
capital; and it is we'll that this is the
case. 1t has developed the country; the
improvements are here and can't very
well be taken away or moved back East.
But, it may be asked, what has all this
to do with Land Commissioner Sparks?
1t has much to do. 1t now depends on
Sparks whether Eastern money be
loaned on Dakota lands or not. Aye,
here's the rub. Commissioner Sparks
system of doing ga land-office business
quite disarranges the plans and upsets
the calculations of the loan agents;
that nearly one-half of the people of Da-
kota are loan agents, and the other half
their victims, it is not to be wondered
at that there is howl made
on Sparks. The trouble is not a deep
or unfathomable one. The old custom,
under Republican rule, was to allow
anybody, at any time, to ''prove up" on
his land and get patent from the gov
eminent for it. No questions were
asked, "fOr cOnscience'S Sake''-whether
the person had lived on the land long
enough; whether all the conditions of
the law had been complied with or not,
and whether he had any right to the
land. All these things were taken for
granted by the kindness of Republican
rule. But with Sparks it is different.
He says, let the laws be enforced, and
let the hardships fall where they may.
He argues that the laws relating to
these subjects have been made for a
purpOSe-tO protect the people from
frauds. Why should they not be en-
forced? In some cases the law has be-
come so complicated, and matters gen.
orally SO mixed, that it is not surprising
if the decisions of the land department
are
NOT ALL JUST THE THING.
1t would be perfection, that is, not
isfied with policy that is so radically
different from the one that has hereto
fore been pursued. Sparks is a re-
former, and it is to be expected that he
will meet with opposition. He is per-
meated with the administration spirit of
reform. He is correcting the abuses OF
the land laws and unearthing fraud.
While he is at this work and in this kind
of business it is not at all strange that
he should be called a crank. One thing
is certain, the different parts of the adj
ministration all work in harmony, and
if Sparks was tout of tune' how long
would he occupy the important and re-
spOnsible position that he does? Sparks
is a good deal more right than wrong.
l do not undertake to say that he is alto
gether right and uphold all his acts.
He has made some mistakes
breaks they have called them-but in
every instance they have been corrected
and no harm done. Five years from
nOw-yeS, two years from nOw-Sparks
will be spoken of as kindly in Dakota
as he is now spoken of harshly and I'M
justly. 1t takes some time for an i'm
pulsive but generous people, like Da-
kotans are, to find out who is their real
benefactor. There is so much rant
and demagogism in the politics of this
territory that it is difficult indeed to find
out what the solid facts are, and who
among the public politicians are to be
trusted.
THE CLEVELAND IDEA.
There is no question but Gov. Church
is close disciple of President Cleve-
land. hammered In he Tn WASHINGTON